Tattooist Luke Warren of the Ballarat Tattoo Gallery is committed to his family, work, and clients

Tattoo parlours once had a reputation for being the realm of questionable types, those far from the mainstream. However, now, more than ever, these sites are places of care and community.

All manner of characters visit such establishments in modern times, according to the Ballarat Tattoo Gallery's Luke 'Fonz' Warren.

"It was taboo," Mr Warren said, referring to tattooing in days gone by.

"Now, it's going to be hard to run into someone without a tattoo. (We) have all different ages; all different ethnicities. Everyone's so different."

Mr Warren believes body art should not have negative connotations nor should those with tattoos be feared or looked down upon.

"My kids have been around tattoos and they know people with tattoos," Mr Warren said.

"They're more inclined to go towards people with tattoos than people without. Some of the worst people in the world don't have tattoos."

One should not be perturbed by Mr Warren's facial illustrations and piercings. He comes across as a devoted family man. One wall of his studio is covered in photos of his glamorous wife Kayla, his children Logan, 10, and Alora, 6, his grandfather, and uncle. Telling stories about his son and daughter fills Mr Warren with joy.

"My biggest thing is my family," Mr Warren said.

"My daughter came in here today. She lost her first tooth. She was so excited about it."

Another account of Alora brought a further smile to Mr Warren's face. Father and daughter were in a doctor's rooms recently and the youngster noticed tattoos on another man.

"Did my dad do those?" Alora asked the man, obviously proud.

A love of family resulted in positive elements being identified early in the first lockdown of 2020.

"It was awesome," Mr Warren said.

"I had so much fun. I was like, 'Yes! Big holiday! I get to have time with my kids."

When the second lockdown was imposed, the gravity of the situation dawned on the father-of-two and he realised his responsibilies.

"I thought, 'Hang on a minute. I need to provide for my family'," Mr Warren recalled.

An empathetic nature was on display during an episode of home schooling last year. Mr Warren was present when an online lesson was being undertaken. His son's classmate articulated he was missing friends and school.

"He couldn't understand what he had done wrong and that just broke my heart," Mr Warren said.

Subsequently, the Warren family reached out to the forlorn child.

In addition, during periods of pandemic restrictions, the tattooist embraced social media in an attempt to help those struggling.

With the studio open again, and people flocking to it, motivations of clients vary.

"It's an art-driven thing," Mr Warren said.

"(It's) things that might remind you of your childhood; it's things which have meaning. They can be for bad reasons or a memorial tattoo to remember someone who has passed away. A tattoo for no reason is always fun too."

Mr Warren has seen the impact his work has on people.

"Little skinny, scrawny guys come in here, get this big tattoo, and they're so happy and excited, they walk out of here on a freezing cold day in a singlet," Mr Warren said.

"They feel confident. It's a self-boosting type of thing, to be able to put something you want on your body."

Mr Warren's studio, established in 2018, has an enviable reputation.

"I built this place for me to be here and more people came along," Mr Warren said of his business' growth.

"It's the age-old 'if you build it, they will come' thing."

He is protective of his turf and fond of it in spades; a welcoming environment is desired with a focus on relationships.

"This is our home away from home," Mr Warren said.

"We get (the client) to establish a connection with the artist. That's what I love about this joint. If someone came in asking for a tattoo, I wouldn't just say, 'That guy over there because he's doing nothing'. We would say, 'Who do you want to get tattooed by?'"

IN OTHER NEWS:

Mr Warren has come from humble beginnings.

"I grew up pretty poor," Mr Warren admitted.

He was raised in Snake Valley, with his maternal grandparents, who had migrated from England, playing a large role in his upbringing. Creativity was in the blood and was evident from a young age.

"My grandfather was actually a cartoonist for a local paper in England," Mr Warren said.

"That's how I got into where I am. My mother was artistic. My uncle became a tattoo artist. I was always the one who won all the things at primary school, all the colouring competitions."

The decision was made to leave school at the end of Year 10.

"I thought about it (and) I was better off going to find a job," Mr Warren said.

A bus, truck, and trailer engineering apprenticeship was begun, but another career beckoned.

"I was always busy with my hands," Mr Warren said.

"I found that tattooing was very similar to things like welding. From my end, it was 'I'm going to put my head down and my arse up and I'm going to do this'."

Given the success of his current venture, it is extraordinary to think Mr Warren was self-taught in the field.

"(There were) a lot of mistakes... on people!" he said.

"My first ever tattoo was on my mother."

Mother and son, neither risk-averse, then went into business together and tattooing became more than a mere occupation.

"Mum and I opened a tattoo studio in Ararat when I was about 21. I've not stopped," Mr Warren said.

"It's not only just a job. It's a lifestyle. Tattooing doesn't stop here (in the shop). I don't finish when I finish work. I basically go home; I answer inboxes; I start talking to other people about what I'm doing the next day. It's all preparing for the next tattoo."

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